<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
What pisses me off is when the merchants get a "Call in" message but are too lazy to do that and just tell you the card was flat out declined instead ...</font>
Actually, as a merchant that accepts AMEX, when we have to call in for an authorization, AMEX charges the merchant a different percentage for that charge AND an authorization charge. Since AMEX charges the merchant somewhere between 3% and 7% (depending on the dollar amounts of average charges) a $12 purchase with an AMEX card that requires an Authorization could cost the merchant almost $2.50 for a single purchase. And considering the markups (particularly if the item is on sale) it may not be good business sense to call for authorization. Although, if I were on the other side of the counter, I would be upset with AMEX.
So do not necessarily blame the merchant for the incompetence at AMEX. He is just trying to save money when he does not call in.